Machine and method for making chain



June 3, 1930. E. F. M. SPEIDEL ET AL MACHINE AND METHOD FOR MAKING CHAIN 4 Sheet's-Sheet l @dav INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

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MACHINE AND METHOD FOR MAKING CHAIN Filed March 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

June 3, 1930. E. F. M. SPEIDEL ET AL l MACHINE AND METHOD FOR MAKING CHAIN 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Ma rch 28,

INVENTORS. dezbO/ g@ S? ab TTrgR/VEYS.

Patnfed June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE EDWIN F. M. SPEIDEL AND KARL C. AUGENSTEIN,

OF EDGEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND, AS-

SIGN ORS TO AUTOMATIC GOLD CHAIN COMPANY, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A FIRM COMPOSED OF EDWIN F. M. SPEIDEL AND ALBERT E. R. SPEIDEL, BOTH OF EDGEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND MACHINE AND METHOD FOR MAKING CHAIN Application led March 28, 1929. Serial No. 350,534.

This invention relates to a machine for forming a chain of a substantial width having somewhat the appearance of mesh fabric; and has for its object to form the same from sheet stock.

A further ob'ect of the invention is the forming of a c ain yor strap by operations which take place Within a single plane without the turning, twisting or partial rotation of any of the links forming an articulate portion of the chain and by a simple bending operation.

A still further object of the invention is the forming of a chain from ribbon sheet stock by a series of operations upon the sheet stock whereby'the same is progressively cut and partially bent in different distinct operations, subsequently finally bentv to connectl it to a series of previously formed and connected links, land subsequently severed.

A still further object of the invention is to perform the successive distinct operations simultaneously on different parts of the material at each intermittent step of the feed of the material.

This invention further consists in the provision of a compound bending tool which has two portions to engage the stock to be operated upon, the first to hold it in position on the anvil while the second portion engages and bends the material about the anvil into the desired shape.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail showing the relative positions of the link attaching members.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 5 isv a sectional view taken on hne 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the chain-hold portion of the stamping tools in section and a strip of metal being acted on.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the first formlng tool showing the relative positions of the members.

Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 showing the metal in position to be acted on.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the upper member of the forming tool as havlng acted upon the metal and bent the outer edges of the metal or ends of the fingers.

Flg. 1l is a sectional view of the second forming tool in position to act upon the metal whlch has previously had its edges bent. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the upper member of the second forming tool as having acted upon the work to partially form the links ofthe chain.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing the partially formed link in position to be closed into engagement with a series of connected links.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of a series of connected links.

Fig. 15 is a perspective -view of a strip of material in various stages of operation.

The ever increasing demand for wrist Watches has created a demand for wrist watch straps which will have certain desirable characteristics of strength, iexibility, minimum thickness and neat appearance, which we have formed by providing a strap of a substantial width and having somewhat the appearance ofa mesh 'fabric strap, the construction being formed of sheet material with links or articulate portions of a substantial width connected together to form a chain or strap. The links or articulate parts each has fingers for engagement with the next link to hold them in connected series, as is more fully described in copending patent application Serial No. 277,189, filed May 12, 1928. This application relates in particular to the machine and method of forming a strap of this character automatically from sheet stock; and the following is a detailed description of the presenty embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished them,

a (portion of ribbon material .before being fe into the machine, 11 a portion with the edges of the strip scalloped which is the first4 operation, 12 a portion having fingers formed thereon, 13 a portion showing these fingers inwardly bent at the ends; 14, a portion showing the fingers after bending with reference to the body of the link; and 15 a portion moved to a position to be joined to the chain or fabric 16 by being finally bent into engagement therewith. The chain or fabric 16 formed is of a predetermined definite width, but it is of course understood that any desired width may be prov`1ded. V

- The machine for forming these o erations consists of a frame composed of a ed plate 17 having legs 18 to support the same.l Two suitable bearlngs 19 are mounted on this bed plate in which the main shaft 20 carrying the various cams of the machine is journaled, this shaft being operated thru the pulleys 21 and 22 or the hand wheel 23 mounted thereon, as is desired. Forward of the main shaft 20 and supported by the frame are two other suitable bearings in which is journaled the shaft 24 for pivotally mounting the cam operated levers 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 which operate the various punches, tools, etc. for operation on the work. A suitably mounted cross bearingv plate 30 supports the various slidably mounted members carrying tools as hereinafter described.

At one side of the frame of the machine there is located a support 31 having a reel 32 rotatably supported thereon, which carries the ribbon sheet stock '10 to be fed into the machine. This ribbon extends thru a guide 33 in an arm 34 and between a pair of reciprocating blocks 35 and 36 for intermittently gripping and feeding or advancing the strip into the machine.

Assuming the blocks 35 and 36 to be released to permit them to move along the strip, the upper block 36 is then pressed downwardly by means of rod and roller 37 and 38 acting by means of the rock lever 25 and cam 39, after which the cam 40 acting thru lever 41 pivoted at 42 engages the lower block 35 between abutments 43 and 44 to feed the two blocks and strip clamped between forwardly a predetermined distance depending upon the adjustment of the collar 45 on the threaded spindle 46, the length of the stock advanced varying with the distance between the collar 45 on one side of the arm 34 and the collar 47 on the other side thereof. This advance takes place against the resilient action of the s ring 48 after which the pressure is release on the upper 15 which shows they block 36 and the s ring returns the parts to starting position or an additional feeding stef of the work.

n the first operation u on the ribbon material it is cut by means o a punch 49 and a die 50, shown in detail in Fig. 7 wherein 51 represents one portion and 52 another portion of the punch, the former forming a scalloped edge 53 on the strip, and the latter piercing out portions of the edge to form the fingers 54 on the strip in staggered relation one to the other. The punch is mounted in a reciprocating head 55 which slides vertically 1n guides carried by the cross plate 30 in response to action of a cam 56 thru rock lever 26 and threaded connecting link 57 adjustable with relation to the lever 26 by means of collars 58 and 59, which mechanism is a duplicate of that illustrated in Fig. 4.

Following this cutting operation, a bending operation takes place over an anvil 60 which is shaped differently in cross section at different portions alon its length. At one portion 61 the anvil is s aped in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 9 while a different portion of the anvil is shaped as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. Bending tools 62 and 63 cooperate with the anvil and are mounted on the head 64 which is reciprocated in response to a cam 65 acting thru the rock lever 2 ,roller contact member 67 and threaded link 68 adjustable with relation to the lever 66 by means of collars 69 and 70.

The bending tool 62 is formed with shoulders 71 to engage the tips of the fingers and bend them over the edges 72 of the anvil, as illustrated at portion 13 in Fig. 15, while the second bending tool 63 has spaced portions 73 to guide the strip to be engaged and bent to the shape of the inclined portion 74 of the tool which cooperates with the corresponding inclined portion 75 of the anvil, shown in Figs. 11 and 12, beneath which is a recess 76 to receive the bent tips 72 of the fingers. See portion 14, Fig. 15.

Each of these bending tools is of a compound character, having a holding portion 77 which is moved by springs 78 into a position so that its end 79 will engage the `strip rior to the shoulders 71 or inclined portions 4 to firmly hold the strip in contact with the anvil prior to and during the bending by the tool. This holding portion 77 is slotted at 80 to receive a pin 81 to limit its movement. The strip after being partially bent is advanced to a position to be further and finally jbent to cause the fin-gers to engage with reviousl connected links, which chain of lin s is hel in position by means of jaws 82 operated intermittently to grip the last formed link or articulate portion connected thereto, as will presently described.

After the portion 15 of the strip is in posi. tion to be nally bent to engage the previously connected links, illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 15, arbor 83 is moved beneath the portion 15 of the stri by means of a spring 125, the movement o the arbor being governed and withdrawn by a cam 84, rock lever 29, connector link 85, lever 86, pivoted at 87 and shaft 88 slidable thru a guide in arm 89. The arbor remains in position beneath the portion 15 during further bending of the link or strip portion 15 by means of members 90 and 91, which move toward each other in response to action of cams 99 and 100. The former thru the rock lever 101, thrust bar 102, lever 103 pivoted at 126 and mountingv block 127, while the latter operates thru rock lever 104 directly upon the mounting block 105 to which is attached the member 91. After the link is connected to the previously formed chain the members 90 and 91 are returned to their open position by the action of springs 109 and 110, giving room for the subsequent operation of the jaws 82. These jaws 82 open by a movement downwardly of the headed shaft 111 permitting springs 112 to act to swing the jaws 82 on their pivots 127. This action is controlled by c-am 116 acting thru cam'roller 117, rod 115, rock arm 113 pivoted at 114 and lspring 128 holding the parts in engagement with the cam.

Upon release of the jaws 82 the tubular shaft 118 operates in response to action of the cam 120 thru link 121 and rock lever 122 pivoted at 123 attached to the bottom of the tubular shaft 118 to move the jaws bodily upwardly a distance equal to substantially the length of the last formed link after which the jaws close by action of the cam 116. The link just attached is severed from the strip and the shaft 118 moved downwardly by action of spring 119 a distanceto allow space for the advance of the strip after which the jaws move upwardly slightly'by means of the cam 120 to position the chain to receive the next link.

The cutting tool 92 which does the severing above mentioned is positioned in close proximity to the arbor 83 allowing just suflicient space for the strip portion 15 to slide in whereby the strip is held against upward movement by this tool during the bending of its fingers by the members 90 and 91. After the bending has been completed and the jaws have gripped the newly formed link, the arbor 83 is withdrawn from the link and the holding and cutting tool 92 moves downwardly responsive to the cam 93 acting thru rock lever 28, head 94, threaded rod 95 connected to the lever 28 by means of collars 96 and shears this stock off between its edge 106 and the end 107 of the anvil. The tool 92 is suitably held in position by the tool holder 97 secured to the head 94 by set screw 98.

A leaf spring 108 is positioned over the ribbon stock at the end of the anvil to assist in maintaining the stock in position and to prevent its movement during the bending operations. i y

The timing of the machine is such that the cuttin of the scallops and fingers, the bendingvo the finger tips and fingers and the closing of a portion of the strip into engagement with the chain all takeplace simultaneously on different portions of the strip after which the jaws 82 move to take a new grip, the arbor is withdrawn and the severing occurs followed by the operation of the feeding means to advance the strip a distance equal to the width of the chain being formed and the same sequence of operations is repeated.

The strip is fed and the chain formed in substantially a single plane without the necesslt-y of any rotary movement of the parts to turn or twist the link formed by which achain having the appearance of mesh fabric is formed automatically fromv flat sheet stock by simple cutting and bending operations.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but we desire it to be understood that we reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being delined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of forming a chain of a substantial width which consists in partially `bending the marginal edges of the link blanks to be attached to the chain, feeding them whilel simultaneously maintaining at least a portion thereof in the original plane -into position to be attached to the chain and further bending them into engagement with the chain. l

2. A methodof forming a` chain of a substantial width' which consists in partially bending a strip of sheet stock with fingers on its opposite edges, feeding said strip into proximity with a chain further bending the strip to engage the chain and subsequently severing the portion of the strip bent into engagement withthe chain.

3. A method of forming a chain of a substantial width which consists in feeding ribbon sheet stock, cutting its opposite edges to form fingers, bending said fingers to engage a previously formed chain of links and severlng the portion attached to said chain from Said strip.

v 4. A method of forming a chain of a substantial width which consists in feeding a strip of ribbon sheet stock forming spaced connecting port-ions and bending said portions to engage corresponding portions of a link previously formed in like manner while simultaneously maintaining at least a part thereof in the original plane.

5. A method of forming a chain of a substantial width which consists in placing a strip of stock notched to form op osed engaging portions across but spaced rom the end link of the chain, bending a portion of said strip into engagement With said end link and subsequently severing the portion of the strip which is attached to the chain.

6. A method of forming a chain of a substantial width which consists in feeding a partially bent link parallel to and spaced from the end link of a chain having its length at right angles to the direction of said feed and m adjacenc-y thereto and subsequently bending said link into engagement therewith.

7. A method of forming a chain of a substantial width which consists in feeding a strip step by step, and performing upon the strip, after each step by step feed, the successive operations of cutting fingers, partially bending the fingers, further bending the fingers into engagement with the chain and subsequently severing the strip to form an additional link on the chain.

8. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a partially formed link blank while simultaneously maintaining at least a portion thereof in the original plane and means for subsequently closing the marginal edges of said link blank into engagement with a previously formed link.

9, In a machine of the character described, means for holding the end link of a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means for bending a portion of a strip of material into engagement with the end link of said chain so held, means for shifting said holding means to grip the portion of the strip bent into engagement and means for subsequently severing the strip to form an additional articulate part of said chain said means being associated to operate in definite timed relation.

10. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means for feeding an additional articulate part in adjacency but spaced from the end link of said chain, and means for bending the edges of said additional articulate part into engagement with said chain.

11. In a machine of the character described, means for holding the end of a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means for advancing a strip of' material in adj acency thereo, means for bending a. portion of said strip into engagement with the end link of said chain so held, means for shifting said holding means to grip the portion of the strip bent into engagement and means for subsequently severing the strip to form an additional articulate part of said chain said means being associated to operate in definite timed relation.

12. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means for advancing a strip of material in adjacency thereto but spaced therefrom, means for bending a marginal edge portion of said strip into engagement with said chain.

13. In a chain machine of the character described, means for holding a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means for advancing a strip of sheet material in adjacency thereto, an arbor, means for advancing said arbor in the op osite direction to the advancing strip an beneath the same, means for bending a portion of said strlp into engagement with said chain and about said arbor, said arbor advancing means serving to withdraw said arbor after the action of said bending means whereby said last formed link may be severed and the chain permitted to drop with the additional part attached thereto.

14. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a sheet metal strip previously cut to form fingers on opposite edges, means for bending said fingers to engage a previously formed series of connected links and means for severing the engaged portion from the strip.

15. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means including movable members operable in 0pposite directions toward each other to bend a portion of additional material into engagement with said chain, said holding means being operable to advance the chain into a new position completely removed from the path of but in position to be engaged by an additional part subsequent to the operation of said movable members.

16. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a chain in position, to receive an additional articulate part, means for advancing a strip of material into adjacency with said chain but completely removed therefrom, an arbor, means for moving said arbor to a position between said strip and said chain, means including movable members operable in opposite directions toward each other to bend said strip into engagement with said chain.

17. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a chain in position to receive an additional articulate part, means for advancing a strip of material into adjacency With said chain, an arbor, means for moving said arbor to a position between said strip and said chain, means including movable members operable in opposite directions toward each other to bend said strip in engagement with said chain, said arbor operating means serving to withdraw said arbor from position and means for advancing said chain to a new position completely removed from the path of but in position to be engaged by yet another additional part `formed, an anvil, means for feeding a strip of sheet stock along s aid anvil, means for bendinv' said strip at successive steps along said anvil about thesame into a partially iinished form, subsequently operating means engaging the partially formed portion to bend it into engagement with said chain and means for severing the part attached to said chain Jfrom said strip.

20. In a machine for making chain, means for supporting said chain formed, an anvil having different cross sections along its different portions, bending members each cooperating With a diii'erent portion of said anvil to eiigage a strip as advanced and partially bend the same into different shapes about said anvil, means operating upon the bent portions subsequent to said members for bending the portions of said strip into engagementwith said chain to provide an additional, articulate portion thereof and means for severing the additional articulate portion from said strip.- u

21. In "a machine `for making a chain, means for supporting the formed chain, means for feeding a strip of material, an anvil having different cross sections along its different portions, bending members each (-o-operating with a diil'erent portion of said anvil to engage the strip as advanced and partially bend the same into ditl'erent shapes about said anvil, means operating upon said bent portion subsequent to said members for bending the portions ot' said strip into engagement with said chain to provide -an addit ional articulate portion thereof, said bending members operating simultaneously on diii'erent parts along said arbor and means for severing the additional articulate portion from said strip.

22. In a machine for making chain, means ior supporting said chain in a position to receive an additional link or articulate portion, means for feeding a strip of'v metal ribbon material for said links, in substantially a single plane by step by step advance and means operating simultaneously upon said strip after each step by step advance to cut out said strip to t'orm fingers on oppositesides, bend said hngers at an angle to the plane of said strip and further bend the fingers at an angle to the intermediate 0rtion between them and means for ben ing said lingers into adjacency With said chain subsequent thereto.

23. In a machine for making chain from sheet stock, a pair of jaws for gripping the chain formed, means for causing said jaws to successively grip and advance said chain into position to receive additional articulate portions, means for feeding a strip of sheet metal ribbon material step by step a distance an even multiple of the Width of the chain' being formed, means for cutting and bending said strip in successive steps as fed, the last bending step securing a portion of the strip to said chain and means for subsequently severing from the strip the portion attached to the chain.

In testimony whereof We aiiix our signatures.

' EDWIN F. M. SPEIDEL.

KARL C. AUGENSTEIN. 

